Retrospective

Val Pietrkiewicz, 212 Woodrow Ave., Dunkirk was the winner of the $100 cash prize in the OBSERVER Trivia Contest conducted in conjunction with the advertiser appreciation pages that ran Oct. 28. Mr. Pietrkiewicz accepted his prize from Karl Davis, general manager of the OBSERVER. He had the winning entry from more than 300 entries that were submitted.

Thirty years ago — 1988

A monument commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Brocton Arch was unveiled Nov. 7 by members of the Brocton-Portland Tourism Group. Constructed out of an old millstone, the monument features a picture of the arch and a bronze plaque listing the names of local residents who contributed to the cost of the project. Although arches were popular in many towns and villages in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Brocton Arch is thought to be the only four-way arch still remaining in the United States.

Forty years ago — 1978

The Ajax Forging and Casting Co. plant is changing affiliations and after the first of the year will become a branch of the Special Metals Corp. The transfer has been made by Allegheny Ludlum Industries, the parent company of both firms. Only the name of the Dunkirk plant will change from Ajax to Special Metals. The plant will continue to convert ingots into billets for sister Allegheny Ludlum companies and other firms. Employment at the Dunkirk plant on Willowbrook Avenue is at an all-time high with 80 production workers and 13 management employees.

Fifty years ago — 1968

The teaching staff of the Brocton Central School has selected Grace Krauth as their nominee for the 1969 Teacher of the Year award. Mrs. Krauth was instrumental in the founding of the Brocton Central Parent Teachers Association and serves as a charter member. She received her teaching license from Fredonia Normal and earned a BS degree from Fredonia State in 1959. She has 30 years of teaching experience.